Save me Mark E. Smith, you're my only hope!
November 12, 2008 11:19 PM Subscribe
The Fall (Mark E. Smith's band). Where does a n00b begin?
I love music, but I've always been intimidated by The Fall, if only because of the sheer size of their catalogue (funnily enough, this wasn't a problem when I became an incurable Guided By Voices fan).
What would be the three best LP's to start with? Any era, any line-up. Lay it on me.
I love music, but I've always been intimidated by The Fall, if only because of the sheer size of their catalogue (funnily enough, this wasn't a problem when I became an incurable Guided By Voices fan).
What would be the three best LP's to start with? Any era, any line-up. Lay it on me.
Best answer: Also, if you want a starter, the A-Sides and B-Sides collections (which focus exclusively on the Brix / Rough Trade period) are pretty great.
posted by apetpsychic at 12:02 AM on November 13, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by apetpsychic at 12:02 AM on November 13, 2008 [1 favorite]
Best answer: The Brix-era stuff is the poppiest, so many people like it for that. But some of those albums aren't really that great; the tunes aren't there and Smith's imagination and caustic wit are lacklustre compared to other periods (on Frenz Experiment in particular.) This Nation's Saving Grace is the best of the bunch, but like all the other albums on Beggars Banquet, it's supposedly getting revamped with demos, outtakes, b-sides, etc - so I'd hold out on all that stuff.
My suggestion, Grotesque (After The Gramme). Just amazing. Or Slates, which is probably better (though shorter originally; on the most recent CD version it's drastically expanded.) Hex Enduction Hour is also amazing, though a bit darker and more brooding. You'll love it eventually, but maybe it's not the best place to start.
My final vote:
1) Grotesque (After The Gramme)
2) Slates
3) I'd probably go with Live At The Witch Trials (their first album - it's not live) - it's kind of underrated nowadays, but it's really great.
posted by Dee Xtrovert at 1:29 AM on November 13, 2008
My suggestion, Grotesque (After The Gramme). Just amazing. Or Slates, which is probably better (though shorter originally; on the most recent CD version it's drastically expanded.) Hex Enduction Hour is also amazing, though a bit darker and more brooding. You'll love it eventually, but maybe it's not the best place to start.
My final vote:
1) Grotesque (After The Gramme)
2) Slates
3) I'd probably go with Live At The Witch Trials (their first album - it's not live) - it's kind of underrated nowadays, but it's really great.
posted by Dee Xtrovert at 1:29 AM on November 13, 2008
Best answer: My first instinct is to say Grotesque, as it's my favourite Fall album (at this precise moment at least), plus it kicks off with two of The Fall's most seminal tracks, How I Wrote Elastic Man and Totally Wired - at least the version you'll find on sale right now does.
Although, to be honest, it's probably fine to start with their most recent release, Imperial Wax Solvent, and work back from there; I genuinely think there's no such thing as a bad Fall album, only slight dips like The Unutterable, and it's not like The Fall ever had a Style Council period where it all went very wrong. The Fall are always The Fall.
Alternatively, just get the Peel Sessions box set - 30-odd years of incredible live performances in one package.
posted by influx at 3:43 AM on November 13, 2008
Although, to be honest, it's probably fine to start with their most recent release, Imperial Wax Solvent, and work back from there; I genuinely think there's no such thing as a bad Fall album, only slight dips like The Unutterable, and it's not like The Fall ever had a Style Council period where it all went very wrong. The Fall are always The Fall.
Alternatively, just get the Peel Sessions box set - 30-odd years of incredible live performances in one package.
posted by influx at 3:43 AM on November 13, 2008
Best answer: Oh, I missed the 'recommend three albums', which I can't ignore:
1. Grotesque
2. Bend Sinister
3. Code: Selfish
There's no way you'll get two Fall fans picking the same three albums though.
posted by influx at 3:46 AM on November 13, 2008
1. Grotesque
2. Bend Sinister
3. Code: Selfish
There's no way you'll get two Fall fans picking the same three albums though.
posted by influx at 3:46 AM on November 13, 2008
Best answer: There's a great 'early years' 2-cd set called Totally Wired which is worth a go for a complete novice.
The Wonderful and Frightening World Of... is easily in my top 5 albums of all time, but compared to Live At The Witch Trials it's so pop it's virtually a Westlife album. 2000's The Unutterable is pretty damned good as well.
You could also do worse than follow Influx's suggestion on the Peel Sessions set. You're asking for LPs rather than individual tracks/singles so I'll keep schtumm for now.
posted by mippy at 4:21 AM on November 13, 2008
The Wonderful and Frightening World Of... is easily in my top 5 albums of all time, but compared to Live At The Witch Trials it's so pop it's virtually a Westlife album. 2000's The Unutterable is pretty damned good as well.
You could also do worse than follow Influx's suggestion on the Peel Sessions set. You're asking for LPs rather than individual tracks/singles so I'll keep schtumm for now.
posted by mippy at 4:21 AM on November 13, 2008
Best answer: Personally, I'd start right at the beginning with Early Years 1977-1979. I never get bored of hearing these. Psycho Mafia will be played at my funeral :-)
Nation's Saving Grace is a good 'border line' between older style Fall & the slightly poppier Bend Sinister, Frenz Experiment & Curious Oranj which, as others have mentioned, is a good era to start at too.
You have, of course, gone the Last.fm route already I'm guessing...
posted by i_cola at 4:54 AM on November 13, 2008
Nation's Saving Grace is a good 'border line' between older style Fall & the slightly poppier Bend Sinister, Frenz Experiment & Curious Oranj which, as others have mentioned, is a good era to start at too.
You have, of course, gone the Last.fm route already I'm guessing...
posted by i_cola at 4:54 AM on November 13, 2008
Perverted by language
This Nation's saving grace
The real new fall LP or Fall heads roll
This would give a good mix of their best stuff from three different eras.
Enjoy!!!
posted by kenchie at 5:10 AM on November 13, 2008
This Nation's saving grace
The real new fall LP or Fall heads roll
This would give a good mix of their best stuff from three different eras.
Enjoy!!!
posted by kenchie at 5:10 AM on November 13, 2008
I think as a sampler you can't go wrong with 50,000 Fall fans can't be wrong
But my personal top 3?
1. Hex Enduction Hour
2. Grotesque
3. Slates
so not a million miles from Dee Xtrovert. There is occassional consensus between Fall fans
posted by handybitesize at 5:18 AM on November 13, 2008
But my personal top 3?
1. Hex Enduction Hour
2. Grotesque
3. Slates
so not a million miles from Dee Xtrovert. There is occassional consensus between Fall fans
posted by handybitesize at 5:18 AM on November 13, 2008
Best answer: Damn are you in for a treat. It's scathingly bitter and funny stuff. My three choices:
1. The Early Years 1977-79 singles comp is a must, to see how it all began. Great jittery angry punk and eerie brilliant repetitive noise. Unlike anything I'd heard before. Gripping from start to finish.
2. Your choice from the pre-Brix albums Grotesque or Hex Enduction Hour ("a literal hour's worth of entertaining bile"). They didn't need Brix to make brittle poppy gems like "New Face in Hell" and "Just Step Sideways." Those albums have some of the most rewarding difficult music you'll ever hear; the band was firing on all cylinders at this point and kept it up for the next six years.
3. One of the first three albums with Brix. My preference is for This Nation's Saving Grace just because "Paint Work" is one of my favorite fractured ballad's of all time, but Perverted by Language and The Wonderful and Frightening World... are just as good.
Oh, and don't believe folks who say the Fall never made a bad record. I wouldn't bother with anything post-1986 until you've thoroughly enjoyed the band's first ten years.
posted by mediareport at 6:09 AM on November 13, 2008
1. The Early Years 1977-79 singles comp is a must, to see how it all began. Great jittery angry punk and eerie brilliant repetitive noise. Unlike anything I'd heard before. Gripping from start to finish.
2. Your choice from the pre-Brix albums Grotesque or Hex Enduction Hour ("a literal hour's worth of entertaining bile"). They didn't need Brix to make brittle poppy gems like "New Face in Hell" and "Just Step Sideways." Those albums have some of the most rewarding difficult music you'll ever hear; the band was firing on all cylinders at this point and kept it up for the next six years.
3. One of the first three albums with Brix. My preference is for This Nation's Saving Grace just because "Paint Work" is one of my favorite fractured ballad's of all time, but Perverted by Language and The Wonderful and Frightening World... are just as good.
Oh, and don't believe folks who say the Fall never made a bad record. I wouldn't bother with anything post-1986 until you've thoroughly enjoyed the band's first ten years.
posted by mediareport at 6:09 AM on November 13, 2008
Seconding Live at the Witch Trials and Perverted by Language. The second is one of my all-time favorites.
The 458489 A sides/B sides, as has already been mentioned, are great.
posted by nasreddin at 7:09 AM on November 13, 2008
The 458489 A sides/B sides, as has already been mentioned, are great.
posted by nasreddin at 7:09 AM on November 13, 2008
Slanted & Enchanted
posted by solipsophistocracy at 8:47 AM on November 13, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by solipsophistocracy at 8:47 AM on November 13, 2008 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I got hooked on Live at the Witch Trials in 1989 and never looked back.
Try starting with the Palace of Swords Reversed compilation, if you can find it (excellent synopsis of their Rough Trade era, 1980-83). After that, try Grotesque, Perverted by Language (personal favorite Fall LP), Room to Live, Slates EP, the Early Years comp and the Hip Priests and Kamerads comp.
Then, the 1984-86 stuff is the place to go. This Nation's Saving Grace, Wonderful and Frightening World of the Fall, and Bend Sinister are well worth getting.
posted by porn in the woods at 9:09 AM on November 13, 2008
Try starting with the Palace of Swords Reversed compilation, if you can find it (excellent synopsis of their Rough Trade era, 1980-83). After that, try Grotesque, Perverted by Language (personal favorite Fall LP), Room to Live, Slates EP, the Early Years comp and the Hip Priests and Kamerads comp.
Then, the 1984-86 stuff is the place to go. This Nation's Saving Grace, Wonderful and Frightening World of the Fall, and Bend Sinister are well worth getting.
posted by porn in the woods at 9:09 AM on November 13, 2008
Best answer: Ask me again tomorrow, and this would probably change, but right now allow me to be slightly obtuse and recommend three (official - not one of the shady offcuts comps that MES has a habit of sanctioning) compilations :
1. Early Fall (Singles from 1977-1979)
2. Palace of Swords Reversed (Singles from 1980-83 - my favourite period, and probably my favourite collection of Fall songs)
3. 458489 A Sides (Singles from 84-89)
I'd say the three of these offer a terrific introduction across the best era of The Fall. Working back to check out the albums containing favourite singles might work well (although a fair amount of these were single-only releases).
I'd also say steer of pretty much anything after The Marshall Suite. For a truly great 21st century Mark E Smith record, get Tromatic Reflexxions by Von Sudenfed (MES backed up by Mouse On Mars). It's magic, and superior to any record released under the name of The Fall this century. IMO, natch.
posted by coach_mcguirk at 9:31 AM on November 13, 2008
1. Early Fall (Singles from 1977-1979)
2. Palace of Swords Reversed (Singles from 1980-83 - my favourite period, and probably my favourite collection of Fall songs)
3. 458489 A Sides (Singles from 84-89)
I'd say the three of these offer a terrific introduction across the best era of The Fall. Working back to check out the albums containing favourite singles might work well (although a fair amount of these were single-only releases).
I'd also say steer of pretty much anything after The Marshall Suite. For a truly great 21st century Mark E Smith record, get Tromatic Reflexxions by Von Sudenfed (MES backed up by Mouse On Mars). It's magic, and superior to any record released under the name of The Fall this century. IMO, natch.
posted by coach_mcguirk at 9:31 AM on November 13, 2008
I'm not going to list 3, primarily because my favorite Fall records share a number of the same songs, and my three would look pretty redundant. But I wanted to nth the suggestions of Palace of Swords Reversed and Hip Priest and Kamerads, which I am still crazy about 20 years after copying my first cassette of them.
posted by Your Time Machine Sucks at 10:14 AM on November 13, 2008
posted by Your Time Machine Sucks at 10:14 AM on November 13, 2008
I generally would never recommend a compilation, but the Rough Trade compilation ("Totally Wired") is pretty great. Other than that, I've just got to put a word in for Hex Enduction Hour. So many great moments in that album...
posted by mr_roboto at 10:42 AM on November 13, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by mr_roboto at 10:42 AM on November 13, 2008 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Fall Heads Roll and the Interim EP are the best of the modern era.
My favourite overall continues to be Hex. An important partner record is Perverted By Language. These are perhaps the two brainiest Fall records, with the best lyrics and MES showing a willingness to be openly clever, something which he seems to shy away from now.
The 2CD reissue of Shift-Work (with all the EPs from around the time, and sessions) is excellent value if you can find it. As would be the Code: Selfish reissue.
Anyway, how about
1) Hex Enduction Hour -- arty Fall
2) This Nation's Saving Grace -- rock music Fall
3) The Unutterable -- good modern-era Fall, to document the post-Hanley era
posted by galaksit at 4:10 PM on November 13, 2008
My favourite overall continues to be Hex. An important partner record is Perverted By Language. These are perhaps the two brainiest Fall records, with the best lyrics and MES showing a willingness to be openly clever, something which he seems to shy away from now.
The 2CD reissue of Shift-Work (with all the EPs from around the time, and sessions) is excellent value if you can find it. As would be the Code: Selfish reissue.
Anyway, how about
1) Hex Enduction Hour -- arty Fall
2) This Nation's Saving Grace -- rock music Fall
3) The Unutterable -- good modern-era Fall, to document the post-Hanley era
posted by galaksit at 4:10 PM on November 13, 2008
Response by poster: Slanted & Enchanted
I C WUT U DID THER
posted by bardic at 4:16 PM on November 13, 2008
I C WUT U DID THER
posted by bardic at 4:16 PM on November 13, 2008
Best answer: Apart from what everybody else said, I'd recommend you do what I did - get Palace of Swords Reversed, and cue up the first track, Prole Art Threat:
Pink press threat! (da-da-da-da-DAAA! da-da-da-da-DAAA!)
...and from that moment on, you'll never look back.
Second choices would be This Nation's Saving Grace or Bend Sinister. Or maybe Perverted by Language or Grotesque. Hell, they're all great. But start with Palace of Swords Reversed.
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:56 PM on November 13, 2008
Pink press threat! (da-da-da-da-DAAA! da-da-da-da-DAAA!)
...and from that moment on, you'll never look back.
Second choices would be This Nation's Saving Grace or Bend Sinister. Or maybe Perverted by Language or Grotesque. Hell, they're all great. But start with Palace of Swords Reversed.
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:56 PM on November 13, 2008
here's what a friend had to say:
No 1 Palace
No 2 & 3 would depend on the person:
- more open minded: Groteque & Slates
- moderately open minded: This Nation and Wonderful & Frightening
- not too open minded: definitely throw Bend Sinister in there (I actually quite like it as an album)
Palace, This nation and Wonderful & Frightening is prob safest bet.
Hmmm quite like perverted by Language as well
posted by UbuRoivas at 8:00 PM on November 13, 2008
No 1 Palace
No 2 & 3 would depend on the person:
- more open minded: Groteque & Slates
- moderately open minded: This Nation and Wonderful & Frightening
- not too open minded: definitely throw Bend Sinister in there (I actually quite like it as an album)
Palace, This nation and Wonderful & Frightening is prob safest bet.
Hmmm quite like perverted by Language as well
posted by UbuRoivas at 8:00 PM on November 13, 2008
curiously, Burhanistan, I am listening to that exact version of the NWRA off that exact double album right now. I refreshed my Recent Activity & my head asploded.
posted by UbuRoivas at 9:10 PM on November 13, 2008
posted by UbuRoivas at 9:10 PM on November 13, 2008
(i wonder if this means the North really will rise again...?)
posted by UbuRoivas at 9:14 PM on November 13, 2008
posted by UbuRoivas at 9:14 PM on November 13, 2008
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posted by apetpsychic at 12:01 AM on November 13, 2008 [2 favorites]